Body Count Feat. Ice T with a slope

VaselineJuly 2, 2024

0 4 minutes read

Body Count relentlessly run through Manchester and leave nothing behind. Should we have expected anything less from the LA mob?

SLOPE

A quick intro and Slope flies into WHY SO SAD. It’s clear that the band is a tight-knit unit. The bass and drums blend beautifully as they roll around the Ritz.

Rage Against The Machine is a clear reference point for the German outfit. There are patches of thrash and punk punctuating the grooves.

It’s Tickin’ is a highlight – there’s definitely an early Red Hot Chili Peppers vibe. With the crowd already close to capacity, Slope has a real chance to showcase their musical wares.

They rattle through many of their powerful tracks in their thirty minute set. Thanks are given to the audience which gradually grows in the set.

Talk Big goes hard on the wah-wah and is the most in-your-face funk groove the band lays down. It’s an early 90’s sound. The terrace style chorus is delivered by the whole band and Manchester starts to rock.

A quick show for London bands is October as the band twists and turns through tempo changes and light and dark colors. You can imagine the Slope, with their own crowd, would leave. They are a great warm-up for Body Count and get the job done well.

BODY COUNT

There’s palpable excitement in the air as Rage Against The Machine blasts from the PA. Body Count and Ice T have earned their legendary status over the years, and Manchester can’t wait for the drop.

Blue and red lights swirl as the band makes their entrance. Ernie C is in red and ready to shred. The opening riff of Body Count’s killer In The House ignites the touch paper and Ice T makes his entrance introducing the band.

This band has always paid homage and had great respect for metal music. Raining Blood increases pulse level. As Ernie C finds himself soloing, the pints fly as the crowd gets busy. Ice T throws water on the crowd during his solo – it’s going to be one of those nights.

A debut album one-two of Bowels Of The Devil and There Goes The Neighborhood rounds off a quartet of songs in blistering fashion. The crowd sings along to “Back Door” at the end as the guitars duel together.

RUTHLESS

“Manchester came to play!” announces Ice T. “It’s been a minute since I’ve seen you motherfuckers” – these are the final two shows of the tour. I’ve saved Britain for last, because you’re always busy.”

Body Count are touring and testing new material from their upcoming album, Merciless. We’ve already been given Psychopath featuring Joe Bad from Fit For An Autopsy. Ice T covers his head, giving him the appearance of a psychopathic criminal. The mock killing of the band members is comical, but the song is not. It cuts like a knife.

Another new cut is The Purge; inspired by the movie of the same name. It’s a monster of a tuned song. All the signature sounds of Body Count are there as the thrashy sections break down into harsh and creepy lyrics. Body Count bassist Vincent Price provides vocals on the track. It certainly whets the appetite for the new Body Count material.

The collective is active and energetic all over the stage and in the crowd. There are heavy pits and multi-stage divers and surfers galore. A dangerous and “unchained” feeling fills the air.

He points with his finger

Point The Finger goes out to Riley Gale; singer Power Trip sadly gone. Ice T comments that it could have been the last song he recorded before his untimely death. The horns are pointed to the sky in memory of the brilliant singer.

“One of my biggest messages over the past 35 years has always been ‘To hell with racism,'” announces the enigmatic Ice T. He introduces No Lives Matter from 2017’s Bloodlust record. The message is pertinent and one that is, has and will always be vital. The crowd claps along with the bass solo and the atmosphere jumps up.

I pay my respects once more. Body Count rolls out an Exploited mix that gets the OG punks going. Drive By sees intense and relentless action in the mosh pit. Manchester is bringing the heat tonight.

Another cautionary tale comes when Ice T invites a young gambler on stage to offer anti-bullying advice. “You have an Uncle Ice, now!” Talk Shit, Get Shot sees that punter marching across the stage and eventually launching into the crowd. Manchester is more than happy to respond to the song “Talk Shit…GET SHOT”.

To round out a main set before the encore, we get the infamous Cop Killer. It’s the song that put Body Count on the map back in the day, such was the controversy. It’s still hard as nails and sees the crowd going wild. The sweaty mess of the Mancunians ignites as the song ends and the band drop some merch.

THAT’S WHY WE’RE CRYING

A “virtual” encore follows. Ice T explains that they will turn off the lights, the crowd will cheer and they will continue!

Born Dead opens the encore. It’s another emotional track that hits the senses. Then the injustice of the world is lamented; but it is once again, a message that is still so vital. Ice T calls for a worldwide ceasefire and the crowd agrees. Fists and horns are raised again as Body Count hits a home right.

It’s a home run that sees the band belt out This Is Why We Ride. Ernie C gets to channel his inner Eddie Hazel / Maggot Brain as he wails on the six string. It might be a bit more downtempo, but it’s no less impactful. It is more reflective.

Body Count is very much alive in 2024; over thirty years since its establishment. Ice T is 66 years old; it’s still going hard. We’ll be waiting for the Merciless with bated breath. The grooves are hard, the energy is charged, the riffs are hard, the messages are vital, the perception is real; Body Count is an awesome band.